On Friday and Saturday, the first quarter was a problem for the Raiders. On Sunday it couldn't have gone much better. Three Rivers scored 34 points in the opening quarter, took a 20-point lead, and cruised to a 101-75 win over State Fair to go 2-1 on the weekend and conclude the Region XVI Showdown. "Tremendous," Three Rivers coach Jeff Walk said of the Raiders' start to the game. "And to be able to do that on a third day, and have that kind of energy and legs, and to be able to go out and impose your will on somebody. That's a great start."
Three Rivers (10-3) finished 3-2 overall in the Showdown, beating State Fair, Jefferson and Crowder with losses to Mineral Area and Moberly Area. Jordan Little outscored State Fair in the first quarter. Little made Three Rivers' first 10 points and had 15 in the first quarter. The Raiders, leading 10-8 after 4 minutes, went on a 12 point run and outscored the Roadrunners 24-6 in the final 6 minutes to lead 34-14 after the first quarter. Three Rivers closed the quarter with 12 unanswered points. "We were just attacking the gaps and driving and kicking to the open shooter, and I was the open shooter at the beginning of the game," Little said. Little, who finished with a season-high 20 points, opened play with a 3 and made three 3-pointers in the first quarter. Darlisha Reed scored for State Fair (5-11) about 3 minutes into the second quarter for the Roadrunners' first field goal in nearly 7 minutes, and just their second in 11 minutes.
"We just came out aggressive, not letting up. We've been told to come out strong so we don't have to scrap at the end," Little said. Soon after, Autumn Dodd made a layup to put Three Rivers ahead by 30 points, and its lead would hover around that margin for the rest of the first half as the Raiders went into the locker room ahead 55- 27, and State Fair never got within 20 points in the second half. Three Rivers will host Lindenwood Belleville JV at 5 p.m. Thursday in their final game before Christmas, and their last home game until Jan. 15 for Region XVI action.
Scott Borkgren - Daily American Republic